Aquaplane



July 8, 1958 I B. ROUDEUSH AQUAPLANE Filed Aug. 8, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 8, 1958 B. ROUDEBUSH 2,841,805

AQUAPLANE Fiied Aug. 8, 1955 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 5& V

5, IN V EN TOR.

United States Patent AQUAPLANE Brooks Roudebush, Winamac, 'Ind., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Fun-Craft, Inc., Winamac, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Application August 8, 1955, Serial No. 526,812

4 Claims. (Cl. 9-21) The present invention relates to novel devices for use in water sports, and more particularly to novel aquaplaneor water skitype devices.

Aquaplane's heretofore in general use have usually been formed a single substantially-flat relatively wide.

board on which the rider stands. The forward end of the board is usually connected with a tow rope, and a rider standing on the board usually grasps a handle member which is connected with the forward end of the board by suitable rope means. Such a relatively wide board is unstable and a'riderL must possess considerable skill to negotiate turns or even remain erect. The use of water skis overcomes certain of the disadvantages of aquaplanes in that'they are more stable and may be more readily manipulated by theaverage rider. However, water skis raise other problems, particularly for beginners. More specifically, thel unskilled rider onwater skis often finds it difiicult to maintain the skis close together and generally parallel so that he will not fall, and this is particularlyv true at the start of a ride or when the water is rough.

It is an important object of the present invention to provide a novel aquaplane or water ski type device which is constructed so that it is more stable and may be more easily manipulated than aquaplanes heretofore in general use and also so that the above mentioned special problems raised by water skis are eliminated.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a novel device of the above described type which is of simple and economical construction.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a device embodying the principles of the present invention and the manner in which the device functions;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the novel device or aquaplane shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 4--4 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing a modified form of the present invention;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the device shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 7-7 in Fig. 5; and

Fig. 8 is a trailing end view of the device shown in Fig. 5.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings where in like parts are designated by the same numerals throughout the various figures, an aquaplane 10 embodying the principles of the present invention is shown. in Figs. 1 through 4. The aquaplane 10 concludes a generally flat board 12 which may be constructed from plywood or any other suitable material. The board is provided with a longitudinal slot 14 which extends from its trailing end toward but substantially short of its leading end. As a result, the board comprises a pair of elongated relatively flexible and transversely spaced ski-like members. 16. and 18 which are integrally and rigidly joined by a front end portion 20 of the board.

Identical foot bindings 22 and 24 are secured to the skilike members 16 and 18 adjacent trailing ends thereof. Each of the foot bindings includes a rubber or other flexible material pocket member 26 having its opposite longitudinal edges secured to the ski member by means of clamping strips 28 and 30 and screws 32 and 34 or other suitable fastening devices. Each pocket member 26 provides an enlarged rearwardly opening mouth'for receiving a foot of a rider and tapers downwardly toward the toe thereof for snugly confining the foot. If desired, a coating 36 of rubber or any suitable non-skid material, may

be applied to each ski member Within the pocket member of the foot bindings so as to restrain the riders feet from slipping.

A handle bar 36 is provided so that a rider may support himself as shown in Fig. l, which handle bar has opposite end portions thereof connected to end portions 38 and 40 of a length of rope or the like. Therope from slipping in either direction through the aperture.

As shown best in Fig. 3, the rope portion 40 is passed through an identical aperture 46 in the board and identical knots 48 are formed in this rope portion at opposite sides of the board. The rope portions 38 and 40 are integral with a V-shaped rope section 50 which, in turn,

is adapted to be connected with a tow rope 52. A handle member 53 is fixed to the forward end portion of the board to facilitate handling thereof, The aquaplane 10 is adapted to be ridden as shown in Figs. 1 and 3 and in a manner which will be readily apparent to those familar with the sport. However, it should be noted that the aquaplane 10 has substantially improved stability as compared with conventional a'quaplanes heretofore in general use since substantially only the relatively narrow spaced apart ski-like portions 16 and 18 engage the water. Furthermore, it is important to note that the novel aquaplane of the present invention may be more readily turned or manipulated by the rider shifting his weight from one foot to the other so that one or the other of the ski portions will be flexed and depressed or raised relative to the other. More specifically, as shown in Fig. 3, the rider may shift his weight to his right foot so as to flex and depress the ski portion 16 to the lower broken line position and thereby cause the aquaplane to turn toward the right. Similarly, he may shift his weight toward his left foot and depress the ski portion 18 and cause the aquaplane to turn toward the left. Alternatively, the rider may lift his right foot as shown in Fig. 3 and thereby raise the ski portion 16 to the upper broken line position and thereby cause the aquaplane to turn toward the left. In actual practice, a rider will usually depress one foot and lift the other to accomplish turning of the aquaplane.

In Figs. 5 through 8 there is shown a modified form of the present invention on which a rider may more nearly similate a ride on a pair of conventional water skis. More specifically, the device of this embodiment includes a board member 54 having a pair of elongated ski portions 56 and 58 which are separated by a slot 60. In this embodiment the slot 60 more nearly approaches the forward end of the board so as to increase the relative flexibility of the ski portions. Foot bindings 62 and 64 which may be identical to the above described foot bindings are mounted on the ski portions at points only slightly behind the longitudinal centers of the ski portions so that the ski-like device of this embodiment will ride more nearly horizontally on the water. If desired, the foot binding may be provided with rubber or other flexible material members 63 and 65 respectively for confining the heels of the riders feet. The forward end portion 66 of the board which serves to rigidly interconnect the ski portions '56 and 58 is curved upwardly as shown in order to prevent the board from dipping into the water. Preferably, in this embodiment the rider grasps a handle bar 68 which is directly connected with a tow rope 70.

It will be appreciated that the ski-like device shown in Figs. 5 through 8 may be turned or manipulated in much the same manner as the device 10 described above. However, more maneuverability is obtained by the ski-like device 54 as a result of the increased relative flexing possible between the ski portions 56 and 58.

From the above description, it is seen that the present invention has provided novel devices in the nature of aquaplanes or water skis, which devices have improved stability and maneuverability so as to facilitate an easier and more enjoyable ride. It is also seen that the devices constructed in accordance with the present invention are especially adapted for use by unskilled riders since the ski portions are rigidly interconnected in a manner which eliminates the problem of a rider maintaining the skis in generally parallel alignment.

While the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described herein, it is obvious that many structural details may be changed Without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

The invention is claimed as follows:

1. A bifurcated unitary water sport device adapted to be towed from a boat or the like and ridden by an operator, and comprising a relatively rigid transverse forward end portion, and a pair of elongated ski-like members to support the operator and trailing said forward end portion in spaced apart relation and rigidly transversely connected to the said forward end portion, said ski-like members being normally maintained substantially in common planar positions against twisting longitudinally thereof by the inherent rigidity of their transverse connections with said forward end portion but being relatively flexible under relative applied pressure by the operator thereon in substantially vertical directions along at least portions of their lengths rearwardly of said transverse connections with said forward end portion for relative manipulative and steering control of the device by the operator.

2. A water sport device as claimed in claim 1, wherein foot binding means are disposed on each of said ski-like members substantially rearwardly of the transverse connections with the forward end portion.

3. A water sport device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the device comprises a one-piece substantially fiat board member in which the forward end portion is of integral one-piece construction with the trailing ski-like members.

4. A water sport device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the forward end portion is curved forwardly and upwardly substantially from its connections with said ski-like members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,356,013 Ranlett Oct. 19, 1920 1,559,390 Waller Oct. 27, 1925 2,327,783 Hains Aug. 24, 1943 FOREIGN PATEN'IQS 822,466 France Sept. 20, 1937 

